“We have requests coming from everywhere. I do not know if we will be able to satisfy all of them. “ If he has not uttered a great “phew” of relief, Chris Dercon, the Belgian boss of the Meeting of National Museums (RMN) -Grand Palais, can in any case consider the future more calmly. Launched a little over seven months ago, the site of the ephemeral Grand Palais, installed on the Champ-de-Mars to replace the “real” Grand Palais, located near the avenue des Champs-Elysées and closed for works until ‘in 2023, barely ends when its reservation book explodes. “Everyone is seduced by the possibilities offered by the place. And the view of the Eiffel Tower is magnificent ”, enthuses Mr. Dercon.
On paper, however, the bet was not obvious. “We had to build a removable structure, offering 10,000 square meters of exhibition space, without planting a single pole in the ground and which does not generate any nuisance for local residents”, says with a smile Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the architect in charge of the project. To achieve this, the septuagenarian imagined a cross 140 meters long, supported by 44 huge wooden arches, all prefabricated in a workshop in Strasbourg and brought to the site by 55 semi-trailers. The whole has been covered with six layers of polymer, which provide perfect acoustic and thermal insulation.
“Dilated architecture”
Now operational, the building should not be ashamed of the comparison with that on Avenue Winston-Churchill. Under the capital, where not a single pillar pollutes the premises, space is almost as important as under the nave of the Grand Palais. “There is only 2000 square meters of difference”, says Wilmotte. Of course, the Champ-de-Mars clone does not have a glass roof like its big brother. But the two glass walls which close it on both sides offer a crossing perspective going from the Eiffel Tower to the Military School. And the insulation provided by the midnight blue ceiling will prevent heat peaks and the hubbub that sometimes disrupt events in the Grand Palais. “It’s a building that allows for an expanded architecture, where you can do shows, art, sport …”, likes Chris Dercon.
In total, the building cost 40 million euros, including its maintenance until 2024
Officially open June 12, on the occasion of a dance show designed by choreographer Boris Charmatz, the ephemeral Grand Palais should host a large part of the events that take place each year in the palace on Avenue Winston-Churchill. The FIAC, the Salons Paris Photo and Art Paris, the show jumping competition Saut Hermès, have already reserved their places. The fashion designer Chanel, who has pledged 25 million euros for the restoration of the Grand Palais, will organize his fashion shows there. From July 2023 to October 2024, the building will also be used by Paris 2024, the organizing committee for the Olympic games, in particular to host the judo and wrestling events of the competition, which is supposed to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
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